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Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, right, steps past Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro and crosses home after hitting a two-run home run off pitcher Nick Pivetta during a game last season at Nationals Park. The Phillies should make at least one more pitch to get free agent Harper into red pinstripes.

Phillies should launch another effort to win over Harper

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, right, steps past Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro and crosses home after hitting a two-run home run off pitcher Nick Pivetta during a game last season at Nationals Park. The Phillies should make at least one more pitch to get free agent Harper into red pinstripes.

Rhys Hoskins wasn't about to lobby too hard last week, when he was available at the Andrew McCutchen welcome party to let his feelings be known about the quick-build possibilities for the 2019 Phillies.

A noteworthy local client of baseball "super agent" Scott Boras, Hoskins of course was supportive of the ongoing attempt by his club to woo either Boras' biggest client, Bryce Harper, or Manny Machado. Or both if you asked the city's favorite sports anti-Scrooge, John Middleton.

In describing his loose lobby efforts, Hoskins said he had "talked to guys," and was "just trying to offer a helping hand if I can."

The most significant help Hoskins can offer is the fact that he'll be leaving left field. With the freeing trade earlier in the month that sent both Carlos Santana and failed prospect (that's how he'll be known around here) J.P. Crawford packing to Seattle, Hoskins finally can be installed as the first baseman of the next decade-plus.

The return of consistently sharp Jean Segura from the Mariners solves the Phillies' shortstop riddle for some time, too. And while Maikel Franco, based on the kind of start he had here a few years ago, is considered by many to be a lost cause, his underappreciated defensive abilities and yes, a bit of an offensive bounce-back in 2018 suggest he should be given yet another go at third base.

The alternative at third, of course, would be Machado, an odds-on favorite to choose the Phillies sometime after the big ball drops in Times Square. With the White Sox and Yankees also trying to win him over, Machado is expected to be the first of the offseason's "Big Two" to sign, with a subsequent Boras bidding war for Harper likely upping his ante past the current highest-paid player in baseball, Giancarlo Stanton.

For the Phillies, the speculation is they've essentially moved on from Harper and are concentrating their best efforts on winning over Machado, who made Philly his last stop on his free agency wooing tour last week. That's partially because the Dodgers have cleared space in the outfield and on their payroll, moving Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, and are offering the moon and the Hollywood stars for Harper to move there.

But until that happens, or at least until Machado makes a resolution to another team, Harper remains the Phillies' best choice in what Middleton says is his determination to pay "stupid" money to turn his club into a postseason contender.

While most Phillies fans would prefer to wait another two years for baseball's real best player, Millville's Mike Trout, to permanently lay his rightful claim to all-time local sports hero and No. 1 Eagles fan, there is absolutely no guarantee that would ever happen. Especially since the Angels are likely to try with all their financial might to get Trout to sign an extension later this winter.

Meanwhile, it wasn't too long ago that Harper was the best player in baseball, winning the MVP at age 22 in 2015. Now he and Machado are entering their primes at 26 (same age as Franco), and while the Phillies would make room anywhere Machado sees fit to play here, putting Harper in the outfield would seem to be more of an impactful lineup move.

Adding either would give the Phillies an immediate advantage beyond the obvious jolt of offensive power. For Hoskins would then be a complementary power piece in the middle of the lineup rather than a lonely run-producer opposing pitchers try to avoid.

The Phillies tried to do that last year by adding Santana, but his production was sporadic and streaky. Having a Harper hitting in a four-spot with Hoskins second (which is where manager Gabe Kapler likes to use him) and say, Segura at the three and Franco and McCutchen in the middle of the order would present an eye-popping lineup for the Phillies.

In the field, Harper would make right field his own, which would make either Nick Williams and/or Odubel Herrera immediate trade candidates.

McCutchen will start in left, while Roman Quinn, who could move to a leadoff spot or just as easily hit eighth, should be given every chance to be the every-day centerfielder.

Williams makes for a fine fourth outfielder. He would spell the aging McCutchen on more than an occasional basis and has shown signs before of being a top-shelf pinch-hitter. But if the Phillies are able to turn either him or (much preferably) Herrera around in a package that would bring in a much-needed third or fourth starting pitcher, all the better.

Either way, Harper, one of those guys that Philadelphia fans have loved to hate for the past several seasons as he's torn them to pieces during most Nationals trips up the Interstate, would show the people just how much of a competitive snot he can be. Which, of course, they would love him for.

And no, of course it won't be cheap. That crazy 13-year, $325 million deal Stanton sign with the Marlins – who quickly shoved off that long-term luxury lease to the Yankees a year ago – will probably be surpassed whenever Harper puts his name to paper. He already turned down an offer of $300 million to stay in Washington.

Ah, the art of the deal.

So be it. Harper is the offensive and marketing force the Phillies need, the star attraction Middleton's partners would desire. The magnet they haven't felt since a young Ryan Howard was making everyone in the park and those watching at home stop for a moment to see what would happen on this trip to the plate.

Yes, Machado had 37 homers last season, three more than Harper. But he's simply not of the same thrill level a Harper at the bat in a South Philly bandbox would pose in Philadelphia.

Besides that, it would be a move that could add a boost of confidence for Franco (22 homers and 68 RBIs, and an impressive .780 OPS in only 131 games), who soldiered on last season with Machado-to-Phillies rumors that heated up as early as June and really didn't abate much once Machado was traded to Los Angeles rather than here. That's because Machado figured to be a free agency candidate here several months on, which he certainly is now.

It would be a greater benefit to the Phillies if Harper was still one, too.